Last week, the NSW government caved in and gave the green light for a complete rebuild of the SFS, alongside the that of the Olympic Stadium, at the exorbitant price of $705 million.
History will look appallingly on an SFS rebuild. This will rank as one of the great white elephant projects Sydney will embark on. And that’s a big feat for a city that has built the cross-city wind tunnel and is embarking on a $30-billion big dig for more freeways of which only one is absolutely viable (Northconnex) – all with taxpayer money, of course.
Sydney needs a replacement football stadium at Moore Park about as much as Pitcairn Island needs a nuclear weapons program. We are talking about a rebuilding a stadium that is presently 80 per cent full or more two or three times a year at most.
The rugby league Anzac Test gets a steady 40,000 audience, while the Sydney Derby in football gets about that too. The odd international rugby union game may sell out but that’s about it.
Otherwise, the three principal tenants: The Roosters, the Waratahs and Sydney FC are now very familiar with the sight of empty seats, or covering large bays with advertising tarpaulin.
Oddly, despite its age, it remains one of the best rectangular stadia in the country, with only the superb Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and AAMI Park in Melbourne being superior. The sight-lines from each end are great, a large amount of the stadium is protected from the elements, and the new HD television screens at either end are second to none.
It is without question an appalling place if you need to take a pee, with long queues at half time a given even if the stadium is empty. The bars and spaces around the bars leave a bit to be desired, and god knows how you navigate in and out of the stadium if you have a disability.
However, if the NSW government, or the SCG trust, are thinking that crowd numbers are low because of the issues above, or the laughably hard-to-believe safety and security concerns, then they are cheerfully deluded.
The bare fact is that if a stadium of that size hasn’t been able to pull an average crowd greater than 15,000 for its events for the past decade, why do people think an identically sized new stadium would?
(Source: Supplied)
This is a white elephant.
Don’t be fooled by high attendances that will inevitably come in the opening year – along with congratulatory pats on the backs by the NSW ministers and the SCG Trust – people love going to something new. Remember when the Olympic Stadium could pull 110,000 to almost anything when the nation was gripped with the pre-Olympics buzz of the stadium?
The lustre will inevitably wear off. It always does. It’s Sydney.
The herd moves on quickly in this town and moves on even quicker if their tenants either have the smallest fan-base in Sydney (the Roosters), chronically underperform (Waratahs) and the final team unable to convert unprecedented success into sustained crowds (Sky Blues).
A renovation should have been the way to go. A renovation could have addressed all the issues, and at the same time reduce the size of the stadium to make it a more boutique and intimate experience.
The seats behind the goal could be reduced by half, the sideline wings could be trimmed out extensively on the upper tier (especially the Nick Shehadie wing that just bakes in the sun otherwise) and seriously upgrade the facilities. Awnings over the north/south ends to trap in the noise and protect fans from the elements would be welcomed too.
The decision to rebuild an empty stadium with a $705 million like-for-like replacement is simply astonishing, and will be one that this government will long be remembered for in time. Sadly, for all the wrong reasons.
What could have been done with the rest of the money? Perhaps putting it into schools, public transport or hospitals could have been an idea. Or another toll road. Sydney could always use another taxpayer-funded toll road.
Norad
Guest
No need for any AFL stadiums in NSW and QLD.
Sports Prophet
Roar Pro
Well they were partly funded by the respective state governments which is no bearing on NSW public funds. Furthermore, which AFL stadiums were not required? The difference is that the SFS does not need to be demolished and rebuilt. Simple, more affordable cosmetic changes is all that is required.
Sydneysider
Guest
GWS Chairman Tony Shepherd is also on the SCG Trust board. Conflict of interest Valhalla????????
RandyM
Guest
What i'm suggesting is i'm sure the AFL would have a lot of interest in what happens to the stadiums in Sydney as they are investing a lot of money and resources into growing the game there. If ANZ gets reconfigured then AFL is left with only Spotless and the SCG which can only hold 45k max. I reckon if the SFS is rebuilt first then there will be no money left over for ANZ, which is what the AFL would want.
Big Steve
Guest
"but the reality is that this is an investment that pays for itself pretty quickly and makes more money in the long term " would love to see that feasibility study where its going to make money. No way this rebuild ever returns 1 cent to the state.
Marco
Guest
Don't use an Opera house comparison to what's happening here. We already have two good stadiums, one is only about 18 years old the other 30years old. The crowds are very poor but you can't blame the stadiums. Allianz needs some work and that's it. The government has chosen to throw 2 billion dollars at rebuilding two new stadiums, that aren't needed, rather than helping essential services. It's sickening! These politicians should be ashamed of themselves.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
On a much broader note but still on topic in a way. I find it a very simplistic argument whenever a proposal on anything which doesn't involve Hospitals , schools and welfare is raised it is automatically deemed as a waste of money Sure H.S and W are more important than anything but we need to spend money on leisure as well. It's a miracle the Opera house ever got built and if you tried to build it now the same argument would be raised about how many hospitals could be built instead. I like hospitals and Opera houses and see the need for both. The lack of support for these stadiums might be valid and I don't know either way, I suppose it is up to the proponents to sell their case for them now or it won't happen. Drawing a long bow but remember the painting Blue Poles? The decision to buy this was bagged relentlessly.
AR
Guest
“You do realise that the NSW Waratahs and Sydney FC also use the stadium.” Of course I do jamesb - hence “(for NRL games)”. Last season the Waratahs played 7 matches with a home crowd average of 14.5k. SydFC, despite all its recent success, will register its fifth consecutive crowd drop at the end of this season - about 15k when you factor in the home derby crowds. So we’re talking about 1/3 full - tops. I’m ok with Govt handouts for suitable stadia, but splurging this amount of taxpayer money when we *know* there is no demand for such a stadium in Sydney, is just disgraceful.
jamesb
Guest
I think you are trying to make the NRL the bad guy here. In your post, there was not one reference to the SCG Trust. There the ones who have really pushed for the SFS to be rebuilt, while the NRL's preference has been ANZ. And it remains to be seen if ANZ gets rebuilt anyway.
Norad
Guest
Plenty of government money spent on AFL stadiums last 15 years and no one bleats about what else the money could have gone too. Now witthin reach of new rectangle stadiums for NRL & football the media turns against building stadiums as a waste of money.
Jock Cornet
Guest
It's a couple of months of pokie payments will pay for it. Why pay taxes when we have pokiea
Mark b
Guest
agreed. waste of money. the thing moore park needs is a heavy RAIL transport link between central and the SCG/SFS.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
What a tops article. Sports, politics and a healthy dose of cynicism. Perfect
Marco
Guest
I get what you are saying. But the NRL keeps on saying it will be good for the average fan. But the average fan doesn't give a rats about corporate boxes. The suits better know what they're doing. The fans just want to go to the game in a decent stadium at a decent price . Prices will rise. To me the stadiums just need a spruce up and keep the costs reasonable. This issue seems to be really getting a community backlash against the decision makers including the NRL who have really pushed for new stadiums. Maybe it's time to get critical about the product that is played in the stadiums and not just blame the quality of the stadiums. I can't think of anyone who thinks this is money well spent.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
Matt. Honestly? Take a good hard look at yourself mate.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
Baird stopped this first time around , now weak as water Gladys has caved to ego-iwantalegacy-Ayres. All egged on by the SCG trust that think it has a god given right to have tax payers pay for the expansion of their empire. It is all an utter, utter disgrace and might just cost the libs the next election. I hope it does.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
So glad I live in Canberra. I know the Canberra haters won't agree but I only have a 5 minute drive to the bottom of Bruce Ridge followed by a 10 minute walk up the hill to Bruce Stadium. While I haven't been to Sydney Football Stadium it seems to offer a lot more than ANZ stadium in terms of closeness to the action. I would be concentrating on re-modelling ANZ first and maybe give the SFS a face lift rather than a complete rebuild. Canberra is going through the process of deciding whether to relocate NRL to a site in the city with a potential indoor sports stadium - similar to the glasshouse stadium in Dunedin NZ. The Dunedin Stadium cost about $220 mill to build back in 2011 and has a capacity of about 30,000 for sport and 35,000 for concerts. This would seem ideal for the Canberra market but the ACT government has gone a bit quiet on this proposal due to the cost of the asbestos home buyback that could cost up to $1 billion.
Don
Roar Rookie
There are a few factors here that could and should result in some changes to NRL attendances and also why the SFS is in line for the rebuild ahead of Homebush. The NRL has already flagged that we will see double headers strategically throughout the season and these would almost certainly have been promised for several years contingent upon the SFS being rebuilt. We need to reconsider the notion that historical NRL attendances will be the norm ongoing. Corporates form a very significant part of the income stadiums generate. The SFS is decades behind in this regard. I know the average fan in the cheap seats has no regard for the suits in boxes and behind glass, but these facilities raise serious income. The corporate facilities at the SFS when compared to the SGC, Suncorp, MCG and others are really poor. Adelaide Oval currently and what the new Perth stadium will offer make them look second rate. You can't ask big $ for just some good seats away from the masses, a waiter and some bistro food anymore. The ARU has long held and tight links with the SCG Trust and, for a few years while Homebush is being rebuilt we would have seen the ARU having to play Bledisloe Cup games and top tier tests in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth for a few years unless the SFS was rebuilt first. And these games drive serious corporate support. Rugby is already struggling for attendances in Sydney but NZ, England or SA tests are still a consistent annual income and awareness generator. They can't afford to not have quality games in Sydney and corporates won't pay top $ for a substandard offer at the old SFS. Soccer in Aus will continue to grow and "event" matches like end of season EPL and Euro sides will happen more and more. The same corporate requirements are stipulated for the big end of town… The NRL GF generates serious $ (and votes) for Sydney and to lose it for 3-4 years would make a serious dent in budgets and as many votes lost as "wasting money" on stadium rebuilds. I've lived in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne over the years. Brisbane is my home and we were fortunate that the current stadium design was dictated by maximising seats on no more than the existing Lang Park footprint meant steeper rakes to the stands, closer seats to the field and maximised cover. It's an economic decision that comes down to alot more than just the what families and punters in the cheap seats who think the pies are too expensive and the beer should be colder (they are and they should be..) believe should be done. And I know fans will hate this but; a certain sell out at the SFS can generate as much and even more $ as 65K people at Stadium Aus does. You can charge a higher $ for seats because of demand and the costs for operating the event are lower. Not a popular thing to talk about. But reality nonetheless.
buddy
Guest
A slightly different perspective not really arguing whether it is a waste of money or not but.........................for a stadium that was designed in the 80's there are some amazing flaws in the design and facilities. Corporate boxes behind the goals, little add-ons above the Paddington end, outside corporate area in the eastern grandstand. The narrow concourse surrounding the stadium that funnels everyone in on big game days. The wholesale lack of female toilets in the place. An indictment on the design and acceptance imo. There are stadiums that are 50-100 years old in better shape and better designed. Never mind the general access and parking fiasco which will all no doubt be solved with the light rail!
Onside
Guest
And given cost over runs associated with ALL governments, the final cost will more likely be 1 Billion, which is one thousand million dollars.